The idyllic setting of Wangetti Beach in Far North Queensland became the scene of an unimaginable horror in October 2018, when a young woman's life was brutally cut short, leading to a complex international investigation and a final verdict years later.
A Life Full of Promise Ends in Tragedy
Toyah Cordingley, a 24-year-old animal lover known for her positive spirit, lived a life surrounded by natural beauty. She worked at the Paws and Claws animal shelter in Port Douglas and at a local health store, was planning to be a bridesmaid, and had a bright future ahead with her boyfriend, Marco.
On Sunday, 21 October 2018, Toyah drove to the secluded Wangetti Beach to walk her dog, Indie. When she failed to return, her family grew concerned. The next morning, her father Troy, mother Vanessa, and brother Jack joined the search. Tragically, it was Troy who discovered a disturbed mound of sand under a tree. As he brushed the sand away, he uncovered a foot, realising he had found his daughter's shallow grave.
The Investigation and a Flight to India
The scene was devastating. Toyah had suffered over 26 stab wounds. Her dog was found tied tightly to a tree nearby. A critical piece of evidence was a stick at the burial site, which held crucial DNA. Despite a massive public appeal for information and DNA samples, the case initially stalled.
Police traced Toyah's missing phone, which had moved from the beach after her death. Analysing traffic camera footage led them to focus on a blue Alfa Romeo. The owner of one of the three such cars in Queensland, Rajwinder Singh, a 41-year-old nurse and married father, had fled the country. He had booked a one-way flight to New Delhi, India, on the morning Toyah's body was found, telling his wife he would be away for a few days. She never heard from him again.
Forensic experts later stated DNA from Singh's home was 3.7 billion times more likely to match the DNA on the stick than anyone else's.
International Manhunt and Final Justice
For four years, Singh remained at large. In late 2022, Queensland police offered a record AUD$1 million reward. A tip-off led Indian authorities to a Sikh temple in New Delhi, where Singh, who had grown a beard, was arrested. He was extradited to Australia, claiming he witnessed the attack but did not commit it.
His first trial in March 2025 ended with a hung jury. At a retrial, prosecutors suggested Singh, whose marriage was failing, may have approached Toyah with sexual intent or been confronted by her after she saw him acting inappropriately. The motive remains officially unknown, but the judge described it as an opportunistic, fatal encounter.
In December 2025, Singh was convicted of murder. During sentencing, Toyah's mother, Vanessa, told him, "You stole the precious life of our daughter from us." Her father, Troy, spoke of his enduring trauma. The judge labelled Singh a "gutless coward" and sentenced him to life in prison with a non-parole period of 25 years.
Toyah's memory is honoured in her community with sunflower tributes and painted stones left around the world by travellers, ensuring her light is not forgotten.
